Terror watchdog's warning as Met holds partner of Snowden journalist

In this undated photo released by Janine Gibson of The Guardian, Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, right, and his partner David Miranda, are shown together at an unknown location. Miranda, the partner of Greenwald, a journalist who received leaks from former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, was detained for nearly nine hours Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013, under anti-terror legislation at Heathrow Airport, triggering claims that authorities are trying to interfere with reporting on the issue. (AP Photo/Janine Gibson, the Guardian) CREDIT MANDATORY

The Government’s own terror watchdog today urged the public to demand reform of airport stop and search powers — as a row broke out over the “extraordinary” nine-hour detention at Heathrow of a whistleblowing journalist’s boyfriend.

David Miranda, 28, whose partner Glenn Greenwald published documents leaked by American fugitive Edward Snowden about mass surveillance programmes of the US National Security Agency, was held by Met detectives as he tried to change planes yesterday on a trip from Berlin to Rio de Janeiro.

His laptop, mobile phone, memory sticks, camera, DVDs and games consoles were all reportedly seized before Mr Miranda, a Brazilian citizen, was released without charge.

The detention was carried out under the Terrorism Act’s “Schedule 7” which allows travellers to be searched and held for up to nine hours even if there are no grounds for suspicion.

It was immediately denounced by Mr Greenwald and civil liberties campaigners as an attack on press freedom and today prompted further concern from MPs and a protest from Brazil.

The Government’s independent reviewer of counter-terrorism legislation, David Anderson QC, also intervened, using Twitter to urge concerned members of the public to lobby their MPs to press for changes to the legislation to ensure it is used more proportionately.

Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, described Mr Miranda’s detention as “extraordinary.” He is demanding an explanation from the Met and claimed it appeared counter-terror legislation was being used “for something that does not appear to relate to terrorism.” The Brazilian government said it had “grave concerns” about the incident.